'Timing is everything': Debbie Thurman of Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty discusses what it takes to be named Realtor of the Year

Debbie Thurman, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty in Jackson, recently was named Realtor of the Year by the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors. After 10 years in the business, Thurman says she loves her occupation despite hours that are long and demanding. Satisfying a client -- whether a seller or a buyer -- makes it worth the late nights and weekend work, she says.

Thurman also is a Jackson R2 School Foundation board member and volunteers for the Backpacks for Fridays program of the Southeast Missouri Food Bank.

Read on as Thurman discusses her career in real estate:

__BT: What does it take to earn that distinction of Realtor of the Year?__

__DT:__ You have to be nominated by your peers. Guidelines for the nomination include, but are not limited, to faithfulness to principals of organized real estate and laws and regulations of the board and Code of Ethics of the National Association of Realtors. It also looks at involvement with the local board, education, advertising programs, rehabilitation work and land utilization.

Debbie Thurman of Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty stands inside the kitchen of one of her current listings in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

__BT: How did you get started in the real estate business?__

__DT:__ I was working full time as an office manager. The gentleman I worked for was building homes and ... I was assisting with the process. He encouraged me to get into the profession. I took online classes, took the test, passed and placed my license. I worked full time as an office manager and as a Realtor for a year before feeling secure to let go of the weekly paycheck.

__BT: Do you specialize in any particular facet of the business?__

__DT:__ While I do have experience with commercial transactions and have handled numerous rental properties, I feel my strongest assets lie with residential real estate. I have found there are changes that seem to occur daily with regulations, new loan programs, alterations on existing loan programs or procedures, forms, technology -- the list goes on. A buyer and/or seller are entrusting you to act in their best interests, so you have to stay abreast of all aspects of real estate.

__BT: What is the split of your business -- serving as a buyer's agent vs. serving as a seller's agent?__

Debbie Thurman of Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty stands outside of one of her current listings in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

__DT:__ Good question; I had never thought about that. I went back and looked at statistics, and since 2007, about 63 percent of my clients have been sellers and 37 percent have been buyers. I love working with both and don't limit myself to one or the other.

__BT: It seems real estate agents work when everyone else is not.__

__DT:__ So very true. A lot of individuals don't realize how much time is truly involved with being an agent. I work a lot of evenings until 7 or 8 p.m. and then go home, only to work a few more hours on paperwork, emails, advertising, etc. It is nothing for one of my clients to comment about receiving an email from me late at night.

__BT: How would you describe the current local real estate market?__

__DT:__ This time of year, it is a seller's market. Presently, I feel there is a shortage of homes on the market for sale, and buyers are definitely outnumbering the properties available. If you have a home you might be considering selling, now would be a good time to list. Obviously the condition, location, floor plan/size, amenities and price all play a factor in how quickly it sells.

__BT: What's the current average days on market for a typical family home?__

__DT:__ A typical home definition I feel would be a three-bedroom, two-bath, on a normal size lot. That being said, right now in Cape Girardeau, statistics show that to be 115 days. In Jackson, the number is smaller, with 87 days on market.

__BT: What advice would you give the first-time homebuyer?__

__DT:__ A Realtor can help you locate properties that will help meet your needs and that are in your price range. They can assist with negotiations of the purchase, including making the offer, the loan process and all paperwork and inspections.

__BT: What advice would you give someone interested in selling their home?__

__DT:__ Selling a house can be a complex process. A Realtor can help you at every stage, from setting a price to marketing the property to closing the sale. Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 tax problem, would you attempt to solve it without the help of an accountant? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the relatively small cost of hiring a Realtor and the large potential risk of not hiring one, it's smart to find a professional.

__BT: Is there an ideal time of year to list a property to sell it quickly?__

__DT:__ Timing really is everything. Getting your asking price and even attracting multiple buyers can simply be a factor of the time of year. Families like to move during the summer when there's a break in the school calendar. Plus, it's often easier to move in the spring and summer months than during winter snows.

__BT: What do you do for fun and entertainment?__

__DT:__ I love spending time with my family. My grandkids can make me smile any time they walk into a room. When I am not working, I try to support my nieces and nephews by attending their events. We are a very supportive family and try our best to be there for each other. I love to camp and ride horses, too, but it seems there are just never enough hours in the day.

__BT: You're a volunteer with the Jackson schools. Would you tell us more about that?__

__DT:__ I am a board member of the Jackson R2 School Foundation, an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to sustaining and enhancing the excellence of Jackson schools. I also volunteer for the Backpacks for Fridays program that meets the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends. Volunteers fill backpacks with meals and snacks, which are discreetly distributed to children to take home. They return the backpacks each week, and the process is repeated throughout the school year.